Soft-fold collar and stiffening device therefor



Dec. 30, 1924. 1,520,822

J. M. KANE SOFT FOLD COLLAR AND. STIFFENING DEVICE THEREFOR Filed June l2, 1920 v@Mmmm/Moz Jam 25M/fahne Patented ec. 30, 1924,.-

JAMES KANE, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOFT-FLD COLLAR AND STIFFENING DEVICE THEREFGR.,

application med :une 1a, 192e. seriai No. 388,690.

The principal objects of the invention are to stien the ends of the folded-over portion of the collar and to hold them in proper spaced relation. In my preferred form, the stiening is accomplished by inserting between the plies of fabric, looped members of wire, a member for each end of the folded-over portion. The shorter legs of the loops are adapted to have a link connection between them. In locking the link in place, the shorter legs of ,the stifening members or elements are drawn towards each other, causing a bending spring action in them, which tendsto hold taut the ends of the soft fold collar.

'A still further object of my invention is to so shape the stifl'ener elements that they can be inserted between the plies ofthe collar by merely inserting them through a 'perforation inthe lining instead of as 1s usual by ,providing special grooves or pockets in the collar.

I attain ,these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a soft fold collar with my improvement shown 1n place.

Figure 2 is a plan of the rlght-hand end of the collar opened out flat, showing a stl'ener element with the connectin link attached.,v

' Figure 3 is a plan of the eft-hand end of the collar opened out fiat, showing the other stiener element.

Figure 4 is a plan of an end of .a collar having a rounded front edge showlng how the stiiener element is bent to fit.

Referring tof-the drawings wherein the invention is -shown in preferred form, the collar consists of a band 10 with the usual button holes 12, and the folded-over portion 11. A portion of the right-hand stiener element denoted in its entirety by the numeral 23 is inserted between the plies of the folded-over portion 11, through the holes 21 which may be made by forcing the point of a pencil into the lining and turning it about. In inserting stiii'ener element 23, the

bent-overl end o'fits longer leg 13, is inserted .f

into hole 21, andthe element rotated about.

to follow its bends while it is being slid in. In a similar manner the left-hand stiener velement denoted in its entirety byl numeral 24, is linserted through hole 22 Stitfener element 23 is in the form of a loop whose longer leg 13 is bent over into a hook. The shorter leg 16 is ,formed with an eye 27 adapted to engage With the eye of link 29.. VStilfenerelement 24 is similar to stiifener element l23, except that the eye 28 on its.'

shorter leg 2O is suitably shaped to receive the hook end of link 29. The loops 14--15 and 18-19 are in ahorizontal position in the collar while the longer legs 13 and 17 lie substantially. parallel to the front edges of the folded-over portion along the seam. The shorter legs v16 and`20 are bent at the proper angle to the' .loops that the required tension` is developed when link 29 hooks into eye 28. The shorter legs 16 and 20 are shown in solid lines in Figures 2 and 3 before link 29 has been hooked into eye 28. The shadow portions of these ligures `and of Figure 1 show substantially the positions assumed by the various parts of the stiifeners when said hooking has taken place. The spring ,tendency ofshorter legs 16 and 20- to assume theposition shown by the solid lines induces tension in linkv 29, and constant pressure of the longer legs 13 and 17 against the front seams of the collar.v The-metal of whichv the 'stiener elements is-made has substantially the same characteristics as that used 'for common pins. This material bends with comparative ease and yet has some resiliency. By bending the shorter legs 16 and 20 at the points 25 and 26, the tension between the stifener elements can be adjusted as well as changing the distance between eyes 27 and 28 to tit collars with wider or narrower spaces between the front' edges of the folded-over portions of the collars. For extreme cases different lengths of link 29 can be used. The tension developed by link 29 is transferred'by bending spring action through loops 14--15 and 18-19 to longer le s against t e front seams. By the use of my stiffener elements and their connection, I am also enabled to hold the front edges of the collar up against the necktie with some pressure. By suitably bending the longer legs 13 and 17, I can cause these edges to conloo 1.3 and 17v causing them to press llO 'form substantially tothe shape of the knot fof the necktie, and produce the appearance sometimes desired.

I claim 1. A stifening device for soft fold collars comprising av metallic elastic stiffener element for each front end of the collar and a connecting link hingedly connected to said elements adapted to span across the space between said front ends, said still'ener elements being formed of Wire suitably bent to permit of their being readily flexed in the direction acro said space.l

2. A stiffeningdcvice for soft fold collars comprising a bent wire 'still'ener element for each front end of the collar, one leg of each stifener element being bent to conform substantially to its corresponding front end of the collar, and means for connecting the other legs of said stiffener elements to each other adapted to be under tension and to induce bending spring action in rsaid stiifener elements when the folded over top is down in Wearing position.

A stil'ening device for soft fold collars comprising a stiffener element for 4each front end of the collar), each element being comv osed of an elastic filament bent into the orm of a loop with one leg shorter thanv the yother and means for connecting the shorter legs to each other when the folded over top is down in Wearing position.

4. A stii'ening device for soft fold collars comprising a stiifener element for each front end of the collar, each element being composed of an elastic filament bent into a loop With prolonged legs, the loop portion being substantially at lright angles to said rlegs, one leg adapted tobe inserted into the body of the collar and the other leg being free, and means for connecting the free legs of each element together When the folded over top is down in Wearing position.

5. A stiffening device for soft fold collars, comprising a stifl'ener element for each front end of the collar, each element being -composed of an elastic filament adapted to have one end inserted into the collar and the other end free, and a connecting link for said free ends provided with a hinged connection at one end and a hook at the other.

6. The combination with a fold collar havin a band and soft folded-over top of a sti ener element for each end of the Leaoaa folded-over'top, eachfstiiener element being composedof bent wire and held. to the collar by penetrating the lining andl means -under tension for connecting said stiii'ener elements to each other when sai-d foldedover top is in wearing position, said stiffener elements being so formed as to be substantially distorted from their normalzshape when so connected.

7. The combination With a fold collar having a band and soft folded-over top of a stiffener element for each end of the folded- 'over top, each element being composed of an elastic filament bent into a loop with (prolonged legs, the loop portion being hel by the collar substantiallyparallel to the fold, the legs being bent substantially at right angles to the loop portion, and means for connecting a leg of one element to one leg of the other,

8. A stiening device for soft fold collars, comprising a stifl'ener element for each yfront end of the collar constructed of a bent elastic filament and means spanning across the space between the front ends of the folded over portion for connecting said stifl'eners one to the other, said filaments being so bent as to cause said connecting means to press outward against the necktie.

9. A stll'ening device for soft fold collars comprising a stie'ner element for each front end of the collar, each element `being composed off a length of wire bent into a loop with prolonged legs, one leg of each still'ener adapted to be fastened to the collar, the other leg being free, and a wire connecting link hingedly 'fastened at one end to one of said free legs and having a hook at its -other end for engaging with a corresponding eye formed on the other of said free egs.

10. A stilfening device for soft fold collars comprisin a stiffener element for each front end of te collar, each element being composed of a length of Wire bent so as to vhave two rolonged legs, one leg of each stiii'ener adlapted to.be fastened to the collar, the other legl being free and adapted to act asa cantilever, said free leg ointing in a substantially downward direction when the folded over top is down in Wearing position, and a. connecting link hingedly fastened to the ends of both of said free legs.

- JS M. 

